Ethiopia

Somaliland faces protests over controversial Ethiopia deal

Somaliland Faces Protests Over Controversial Ethiopia Deal.

By Gelle Dheere | Sunday, January 7, 2024

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took decisive action by signing a law to nullify the contentious agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

A big protest denouncing the controversial Ethiopia-Somaliland access-to-sea deal has erupted in Borama, Awdal region.

Powerful images of demonstrators chanting "Our sea is not for sale" have circulated widely on social media. Similar protests are said to have occurred in Burco, the second-largest city in Somaliland, situated in the Togdheer region.

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In a shocking announcement on 2 January, Somaliland revealed that it had reached an agreement with Ethiopia, offering the landlocked nation a 50-year lease for 20 kilometres of sea and a naval base in exchange for official recognition.

In return, Ethiopia has committed to providing Somaliland with shares in Ethiopian Airlines; however, it has not issued a formal statement regarding the official recognition of Somaliland.

Somalia has vehemently condemned the agreement inked by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa, citing it as a significant violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Its stance has garnered support from influential global entities, including the United States, China, Egypt, Turkey, the European Union, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have urged restraint and emphasised the need for dialogue in this matter.

Yesterday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took decisive action by signing a law to nullify the contentious agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which has escalated tensions in the Horn of Africa region.

Hassan emphasised on that the new law effectively annulled the unauthorized pact, denying landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somaliland.